Man bailed after 'threat to slit girlfriend's throat'
A Belfast man allegedly held a knife to his girlfriend’s throat and declared “I will cut you from ear to ear”, the High Court heard today.
Iain Darren Hynes, 41, is also accused of imprisoning the woman and punching her about the head and body at his home in the Village area of the city.
She claims to have suffered a number of broken ribs during an ordeal which lasted for hours, prosecutors said.
Details emerged as Hynes, of Frenchpark Street, was granted bail on charges of threats to kill, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon and false imprisonment.
Police were alerted after the alleged attack took place in the early hours of September 27.
Crown counsel Fiona O’Kane said the woman claimed Hynes “snapped”, threw her onto the bed and punched her several times.
At one point when he phoned his mother the complainant screamed in terror that she was going to be killed, the court was told.
According to her account Hynes refused to let her leave the bedroom when she attempted to escape by asking to use the toilet.
Mrs O’Kane continued: “She said he produced a knife, held her down and placed it to her neck saying ‘I will cut you from ear to ear’.
“Following this he punched her several times to the ribs, causing severe pain.”
Hynes later passed out from a suspected overdose.
In police interviews Hynes denied brandishing a knife and claimed the woman’s injuries happened while he defended himself from an attack by her.
Granting bail, Mr Justice Rooney indicated the accused was getting one chance, based on his lack of any previous record for similar offences.